Baseball 2/3/2012 2:43:00 PM

Stars boast of talented newcomers in baseball

Top-ranked OCU set to start season vs. Hastings at 10 a.m. Saturday at home

Brian Fisher made the Sooner Athletic Conference gold glove team as a sophomore.

Oklahoma City University hit the recruiting trail hard this off-season to come up with a team billed as tops in NAIA baseball entering the 2012 season.
The Stars retooled coming off a year where OCU advanced to the NAIA World Series for the 13th time in program history, captured the Sooner Athletic Conference regular-season title and rang up 45 wins for the 15th year in a row.
OCU bid farewell to 15 seniors plus two underclassman draftees. Among that group were three chosen in the Major League Baseball draft and the NAIA and Sooner Athletic Conference player of the year.
Yet OCU stands No. 1 atop the preseason national rankings and has been favored to win the SAC. OCU, which won the 2005 national championship, is expected to continue its tradition as the winningest college baseball program in the nation since 1991.
The Stars open the season against Hastings (Neb.) 10 a.m. Saturday at Jim Wade Stadium. OCU plays Grand View (Iowa) at 3 p.m. Saturday, also at Jim Wade Stadium. Fans can follow Saturday's games via live audio or stats by clicking here. Sunday's games will also be video streamed.
“I expect to again compete at the national level,” OCU coach Denney Crabaugh said. “We've been lacking the pitching staff to compete like that. This is the best pitching staff we've had since 2005.
“Our overall team speed is better than we've had in a long, long time. This will not be the typical OCU offense. The small ball will be a bigger part of our offense. We have the people to do it.”
Seniors Miguel Beltran, Chad Carman, Brian Fisher and Rich Hawkins will be expected to fuel OCU's drive towards championships this year.
Beltran, a senior first baseman from Long Beach, Calif., produces runs for the Stars with his left-handed power. He hit .346 with 13 home runs and 66 RBIs last year. He tied NAIA records with two grand slams and 13 RBIs at St. Gregory's on March 26, 2011.
“We look to him to pick up where he left off,” Crabaugh said. “We need him to drive in runs in the middle of our order and supply power. People are going to pitch him even tougher.”
Carman, a senior from Midwest City, Okla., has been a three-year starter at catcher for the Stars. He enters this season with a .376 batting average, 19 home runs and 115 RBIs in his OCU career.
“He had another good year defensively,” Crabaugh said. “His offense was not as good as his sophomore year. We look for better offensive numbers.”
Fisher, a senior second baseman from Spring, Texas, could switch to shortstop this year. He has hit .359 with 12 homers and 81 RBIs while playing well defensively in three years with OCU.
“He is a gold glove guy who could end up playing shortstop,” Crabaugh said. “I don't have questions about his defense. We need him to return to form offensively.”
Hawkins, a senior left-handed pitcher from Edmond, Okla., emerged as the staff ace last season. He went 10-5 with a 2.04 earned run average and two shutouts.
“He will be the opening-day starter,” Crabaugh said. “He competes on the mound. He pitches to contact. His success will depend partly on how quickly the defense jells.”
A closer look at the OCU team:

Infield

Dane Phillips will be expected to split time with Carman at catcher. Phillips, a junior from Nacogdoches, Texas, joins the Stars after earning first-team all-Big 12 honors with Oklahoma State in 2011.
“He is the best pure hitter on the team,” Crabaugh said. “He has the ability to put up numbers that will get him consideration for conference player of the year and national player of the year awards.”
Brayden Brumley had a .310 average with 18 RBIs for Allen County (Kan.) last season. Brumley, a junior from Ardmore, Okla., will play a utility role for OCU.
“He could play three infield positions,” Crabaugh said. “He has lots of speed and could steal a lot of bases for us.”
Andrew Dennis will be counted to bolster depth across the infield. Dennis, a junior from San Jose, Calif., spent last season at OCU redshirting.
“He provides backup in our infield and depth at a couple of infield positions,” Crabaugh said.
Kale Gaden hit .305 with 34 RBIs for Seminole State last year. Gaden, a junior from Stillwater, Okla., could play several roles for OCU.
“He has a solid bat and runs well,” Crabaugh said. “We expect him to drive in runs and get on base while starting innings off well.”
Chris Muñoz joins the Stars after hitting .392 with 24 stolen bases for Eastern Oklahoma State in 2011. Muñoz is slated to play often at shortstop.
Jonathan Sigado, a junior from Salem, Ore., could hold down one of the Stars' infield positions.
Trey Summers spent last year getting acclimated to OCU as a redshirt. Summers, a sophomore from Tulsa, Okla., could be called upon at catcher or third base.

Outfield

Dalton Bernardi led Rose State in RBIs and pitching appearances last season. Bernardi, a junior from Choctaw, Okla., will play both those roles for OCU.
“He will serve a dual purpose as an outfielder and go-to guy out of the bullpen,” said Crabaugh. “He has good speed and a good arm.”
Cody Ferrell will provide speed on the basepaths and roving defense in the outfield. Ferrell, a junior from McLoud, Okla., produced a .367 average, eight homers, 34 RBIs and 20 steals for Seminole last year.
“He is the fastest guy on the team,” Crabaugh said. “He has power and hits for average. He can steal bases and has gap-to-gap power. He can hit the ball out. He is our best center fielder, but he could also play third.”
Kyle Lacy will fill roles as a left-handed batter and relief pitcher for the Stars. Lacy, a freshman from Edmond, Okla., was an all-city selection as a high school senior.
“He runs well,” Crabaugh said. “He will be a go-to left-handed pitcher in the pen.”
Randy Vann spent last season as a role player for the Stars. Vann, a sophomore from Yukon, Okla., will add depth in the outfield.
“He has improved his defense immensely,” Crabaugh said. “He works hard.”
Josh Dickey, a junior from Bakersfield, Calif., will likely redshirt this season.
“He swings the bat really well and would contribute offensively for us,” Crabaugh said.

Pitching

Along with Hawkins, Allen Townsend is another holdover from last year's OCU rotation. Townsend, a senior left-hander from San Diego, went 7-1 with a 4.25 ERA last season.
“He had a big first half of last year,” Crabaugh said. “He dealt with arm fatigue. A summer of rest should get him back to form.”
Cody Crabaugh has put up 12 wins in his OCU career. Crabaugh, a junior right-hander from Edmond, Okla., could either start or relieve for the Stars.
“He will start the year in the rotation,” Denney Crabaugh said. “He has a chance to be good if he has consistent command of the strike zone.”
Like much of the team, many newcomers will comprise OCU's pitching staff. Ryan Gibson, a sophomore lefty from Yukon, Okla., brings an electric repertoire from Oklahoma.
“He is a highly touted pitcher getting interest from scouts,” Crabaugh said. “He will be in our starting rotation with dominating stuff. I expect him to do well for us.”
Patrick Goelz comes to OCU after being in Bethune-Cookman's rotation. Goelz, a junior right-hander from Palm Bay, Fla., has been cast as OCU's relief ace this season.
Crabaugh said: “He will be the closer for us. He brings experience competing at a high level. He throws nasty stuff with a lot of movement.”
Davis Henderson posted an 8-1 record with Cisco (Texas) as a freshman. Henderson, a junior righty from Spring, Texas, will have opportunity to be a starter or a reliever.
“He could be a starter,” Crabaugh said. “He contributes to the quality depth of our staff. He could fill several roles for us.”
Jerod Peper, a senior righty from Adair, Okla., came to OCU from Tennessee.
"He's slated to start out in the pen," Crabaugh said. "He could provide the quality depth needed to compete at the national level."
Blake Schwartz had a decorated career as Minnesota State-Mankato's ace hurler with 24 wins there. Schwartz, a senior righty from Rosemount, Minn., is motivated to help OCU compete for titles.
Crabaugh: “He is our potential No. 1 starter and as complete and polished a pitcher we've had in a long time. Expecting him to go out and beat good people. He has a lot of experience. We expect him to be our ace.”
Will Patrigo worked on his game as a redshirt with OCU last year. Patrigo, a redshirt freshman from Oklahoma City, will be called upon from the bullpen.
“He will find himself getting quality innings especially early in the year,” Crabaugh said. “He has solid stuff, but struggles with consistency.”
Matt Burkett, a freshman from Guymon, Okla., is slated to sit this year as a redshirt.

Crabaugh and his coaching staff will work to blend a group of mostly newcomers into a contender.
“We will a job ahead of us to find the right defensive combination to win ballgames,” he said. “We will have players playing positions other than what they were recruited to play. It's a great honor to be the preseason No. 1, and it speaks volumes about the tradition of our program.”

Print Friendly Version